Life support system for deep submersible vehicles

ABSTRACT

A cooling system for a deep submersible vehicle having a cabin and a false floor. The cooling medium of the cooling system has a high specific heat and is stored in the normally unused space beneath the false floor. The cooling media is super-cooled or frozen by the refrigeration system of a mother ship. One heat exchanger is located in the cooling medium and another heat exchanger is located in the crew department of the cabin. A circulation system is provided between the two heat exchangers. Heat for the vehicle is provided by the vehicle passengers, electric equipment, a CO2 scrubber and a heater if required. The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

United States Patent Jacobs et al.

[54] LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR DEEP SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLES [72] Inventors:Richard M. Jacobs, Baton Rouge, La.; Dave W. Alexander, Houston, Tex.;Charles M. Gronroos, Vallejo, Calif.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Navy [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 101,789

[52] US. Cl. .114/16 R, 62/435, 114/05 R, 244/1 SC [51] Int. Cl "863g8/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..ll4/l6 R, 0.5 R;61/69 R; 62/434, 435, 436,438, 6; 244/1 SC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,08410/1955 Hailey ..62/435 X 3,375,671 4/1968 Lloyd ..61/69 R 51 May9, 19723,379,021 4/1968 Link ..6l/69R Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix AttorneyR.S. Sciascia and Charles D. B. Curry [5 7] ABSTRACT A cooling system fora deep submersible vehicle having a cabin and a false floor. The coolingmedium of the cooling system has a high specific heat and is stored inthe normally unused space beneath the false floor. The cooling media issuper-cooled or frozen by the refrigeration system of a mother ship. Oneheat exchanger is located in the cooling medium and another heatexchanger is located in the crew department of the cabin. A circulationsystem is provided between the two heat exchangers. Heat for the vehicleis provided by the vehicle passengers, electric equipment, a C0 scrubberand a heater if required.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures EXTERNAL REFRIGERATION UNIT PATENTEUMAY 9I972 3. 661 ,107

sum 1 OF 2 EXTERNAL REFRIGERATION UNIT F|G 1 I N VEN TORS CHARLES M.GRONEOOS RICHARD M. JACO S DAVE W. ALEXANDER LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM FORDEEP SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to a simple cooling component of a life support systemof a deep submersible vehicle where cooling systems are required, andmore particularly to a temperature control comprising a self-containedheat exchanger system having low power requirements.

In previous cooling systems, power was required for both heating andcooling or no heating or cooling capabilities existed at all. If theprior systems did use heating and cooling systems, it was accomplishedby self-contained refrigeration units, thermoelectric systems and/orvarious heat exchanger systems with one heat exchanger located insidethe sphere against the hull and the second heat exchanger locatedexternally from the hull. All of the previous systems used pumps tocirculate the cooling media (water or water-glycol) through the heatexchangers. Some of the systems required compressors and additionalpumps for normal operation. If the unit was capable of cooling only,then a separate unit was usually added to heat the system. Power for thefree swimming submersible unit described above required high voltagebatteries and extra cells to sustain operation. This previous systemadded weight and required more space. An increase in weight increasesthe requirement for more buoyant material to support this weight, whichcould increase the overall size and weight of the vehicle or reduce itspayload.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The major advantage of the cooling system ofthe present invention over the prior systems is the low powerrequirement needed to cool the cabin; that is, only a cooling system isneeded to cool.

The heat needed for normal crew comfort is generated by the three men,electronic equipment and a C scrubber. If additional heat is desired, anauxiliary heater may be used as a supplementary source. However, if thesphere were properly insulated the supplementary source would not berequired. The unique system occupies the unusable space in the bottom ofthe sphere beneath the floor unlike comparable equipment which occupiesmuch needed space in the crew compartment.

STATEMENTS OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A particular object of theinvention is to provide a system to both heat and cool and support threemen for 12 hours with a safety factor of 300 percent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heating and coolingsystem that is small, efficient and reliable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooling device in apassive life support system that requires low power and performs withinthe full range of its design.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the inventionwhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the sphere and the integrated temperaturecontrol (heat sink) combination; and

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the basic life support system including anillustration of the inventive heat exchanger system.

A particular feature of the inventive system is the large heat sink orheat exchanger. This device is located beneath the false floor of thecabin and consists of a container filled with water or some othersubstance with a high specific heat. The unit functions by pumping aheat exchanger fluid through the cabin heat exchanger wherein the air iscooled and excess humidity is removed. Referring to FIG. 1,specifically, the heat exchanger HE I unit 7 is cooled by a containedvolume of gel 5 which freezes at least lO F and has a specific heatequal to that of water. The gel 5 is located under the floor 7 in thebilge, in a well insulated container, with refrigeration coils 8 runningthrough the composite unit. The heat exchanger system is connected to anexternal refrigeration unit 13 through valves 11 and 12. When V-ll andV-l2 are closed the heat exchanger HE l 7 is connected to heat exchangerHE II 2 and dehumidifier 6. Note V-ll and V12 could be disconnectingcouplings which could be used to connect unit 7 and unit 2 or unit 7 and13, thus isolating the odd unit in either case. The coolant pump 3 usedto circulate a water-glycol solution is connected between the two heatexchangers. A condensate collector 6 is connected to the heat exchangerHE II 2. A blower 4, air filter 1 and a ventilation air outlet are partof the overall life sustaining system. The sphere 10 is insulated in theupper cabin area with a wall insulation material 10. Referring to FIG.2, before a dive, a dockside refrigeration unit or an external unit 20is connected to the refrigerator coils l8 and 19 and the gel 15 iscooled to about 30 F. The coils 16 are purged of freon, then connectedto the cabin heat exchanger HE ll 23 and the whole system filled with awaterglycol solution. A variable speed pump 22 will circulate thecoolant through the ice block coils and the cabin heat exchanger duringthe dive. This system is very simple and can cool the cabin even in warmwater. The system eliminates the need for using toxic material directlyin the cooling system.

Referring to the diagram in FIG. 2 wherein the heat exchanger for theIntegrated Life Support System (ILSS) for deep submersible vehiclesfunctions in the following manner: a thermally insulated container, heatexchanger HE l 17 containing a material of high specific heat such aswater, light salt brine, blue-ice gel or any material which has aspecific heat equal to that of water, is super cooled to a temperaturebelow the materials freezing point. For example, the blue-ice gelfreezes at about 10 F. Immersed within the container (heat exchanger HEI 17 and the gel 15 is a continuous copper or aluminum refrigerationtube or coil 16. This tube contains a fluid capable of removing heatenergy from HE ll heat exchanger 24, located in the cabin. The fluid canbe either a water glycol solution or any other non-toxic fluid with alow freezing point. Since the atmosphere within the submersible vehiclemust be kept free from any toxic, substance, great care must beexercised if the freon is used as a substance to initially cool the iceblock. The Alternative is to use a nontoxic media such as a brine orwater-glycol solution for this heat removal process.

OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS The heat exchange system, hereafter referredto as HE I and HE II, functions as follows: Prior to the dive the HE Iheat exchanger 17 system is by-passed from ILSS. An external orshipboard refrigeration unit is then connected to the refrigerationcoils l8 and 19 of HE I 17 and is operated until the temperature hasbeen lowered to a predetermined temperature below freezing, or, about30" F for the gel 15. Upon completion of this refrigeration process theexternal freezer 20 is disconnected. The refrigeration coils are purgedof freon and the normal coolant material is replaced. Finally the coils16 are reconnected to the heat exchanger. Once the vehicle has beenplaced in the water the following situations could arise: Warm waterwill cause the temperature inside the sphere or cabin to rise. Thisraise in temperature will be sensed by the thermostat 30 and humiditycontrol 29 activating the heat exchanger pump 22, thus moving coolantthrough the coils of HE II 24, and thereby lowering the air temperatureand hu midity. However, if the cabin temperature should decrease and thehumidity remains high, the coolant pump 22 is stopped; the air is nolonger cooled; but excess humidity is removed by a desicant such assilica gel 25. The system is designed to support three men for 12 hourswith a safety factor of 300 percent with minimum power requirements. Thecrew compartment is kept warm by the heat generated by three men,electric equipment, and the CO scrubber. This heat will be retained bythe insulation of the hull.

In summary, the cooling system, which is the subject of the invention,is a cold source heat exchanger system located below the false floor ofthe cabin of a deep submersible system. This cold source is filled witha substance having a low freezing point and a high specific heat. Thissubstance is then super-cooled (frozen) by attaching the submersiblesystem to the mother ship refrigeration system just prior to launchingthe deep submersible vessel. Then the coolant from the deep submersiblevessel air cooler is passed through the heat exchanger tubes in the coldsource. The only power required is that necessary to pump the air coolercoolant.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What we claim is:

l. A cooling component control of a system for sustaining life in asubmersible vehicle, said vehicle including a cabin with a false floor,and a life sustaining system including a cooling component comprising incombination:

a. medium of high specific heat positioned below the false b. externalrefrigerating means for super-cooling said medium to its freezing point;

c. a first heat exchanger located in said medium;

d. external refrigerating means being intermittently operativelyconnected to said first heat exchanger;

e. a second heat exchanger located in the cabin;

f. an accumulating tube operatively connected between said first andsecond heat exchanger;

g. said accumulating tube containing a heat removing fluid;

h. pump means operatively connected between said first and second heatexchangers and the accumulating tube to control the circulation of saidfluid.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the medium of high specificheat is a salt-brine.

3. The apparatus recited in claim I wherein the medium of high specificheat is a blue-ice gel.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger consistsof refrigeration coils.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the second heat exchangercomprises a humidity removal means and condensate collector.

6. The device recited in claim 1 wherein the external refrigeratingmeans is a shipboard refrigeration unit intermittently operativelyconnected to said first heat exchanger consisting of refrigerationcoils.

7. The device recited in claim 1 wherein the heat removing fluid is awater-glycol solution.

1. A cooling component control of a system for sustaining life in asubmersible vehicle, said vehicle including a cabin with a false floor,and a life sustaining system including a cooling component comprising incombination: a. medium of high specific heat positioned below the falsefloor; b. external refrigerating means for super-cooling said medium toits freezing point; c. a first heat exchanger located in said medium; d.external refrigerating means being intermittently operatively connectedto said first heat exchanger; e. a second heat exchanger located in thecabin; f. an accumulating tube operatively connected between said firstand second heat exchanger; g. said accumulating tube containing a heatremoving fluid; h. pump means operatively connected between said firstand second heat exchangers and the accumulating tube to control thecirculation of said fluid.
 2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 whereinthe medium of high specific heat is a salt-brine.
 3. The apparatusrecited in claim 1 wherein the medium of high specific heat is ablue-ice gel.
 4. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the heatexchanger consists of refrigeration coils.
 5. The apparatus recited inclaim 4 wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a humidity removalmeans and condensate collector.
 6. The device recited in claim 1 whereinthe external refrIgerating means is a shipboard refrigeration unitintermittently operatively connected to said first heat exchangerconsisting of refrigeration coils.
 7. The device recited in claim 1wherein the heat removing fluid is a water-glycol solution.